The Importance of Pre-Ride Inspections

[Tirebiter]

I ventured out into the garage to test out the heated vest I received for Christmas. While passing behind the bike, I brushed against the license plate frame and felt it move. Looking down I could see that the whole assembly had rotated out of kilter.


Upon closer inspection, I found that 3 of the 4 bolts holding the unit to the exhaust cans were missing and that the fourth was loose.



Yikes, I could only imagine the carnage that might have been brought forth had the last bolt been lost. The rear tire could have caught the assembly and sucked it forward, sharp edges slashing at the rubber...... Guess I will be performing more extensive pre-ride inspections from now on.

Brock

[R111S]

Thanks for that note Tirebiter...Glad you caught it soon enough.

I'll be looking at mine too...the Z-Tech Lic. Mount is a little different though with fewer fasteners.

[JonyRR]

cross legs on the floor, burn some castrol R for incense and repeat after me:
'loctite, safety wire, locknuts'
'loctite, safety wire, locknuts'
'loctite, safety wire, locknuts'
'loctite, safety wire, locknuts'
'loctite, safety wire, locknuts'

these things vibrate like a paint mixer on methamphetamine.
Some have snickered at my safety-wired, jamnutted, locknutted R1100S.
my reply is I haven't lost any parts since I first brought it home and I don't intend to start now.

[Tirebiter]

Originally posted by JonyRR
cross legs on the floor, burn some castrol R for incense and repeat after me:
'loctite, safety wire, locknuts'
'loctite, safety wire, locknuts'
'loctite, safety wire, locknuts'
'loctite, safety wire, locknuts'
'loctite, safety wire, locknuts'

these things vibrate like a paint mixer on methamphetamine.
Some have snickered at my safety-wired, jamnutted, locknutted R1100S.
my reply is I haven't lost any parts since I first brought it home and I don't intend to start now.

Yeppers, everything went back together with a healthy dollop of Loctite.....but still gonna wiggle things a bit before venturing forth each ride.....

[PFFOG]

Why doea any good pilot preflight his plane?? Because a problem could be fatal.

Well our sport can be just as deadly if a mechanical failure should occur, I try to do a preflight every time I ride, and during the day if on a long trek. if I don't check the pressure, I always give both tires a kick with the heal, suprisingly accurate to find a soft tire.

[BMathison]

I was always made to wash my own bikes by hand (making sure to touch Everything) starting at the ripe old age of 4, for this very reason.
Check it before, check it after for peace of mind.

[bradzdotcom]

old indian trick:

walk clockwise around bike every time you stop for fuel.
gas up bike.
take another lap, counter-clockwise around bike before you get back on.

the concept is: find reasons NOT to ride".


this method drives jeff williams nuts, which is part of the fun/reason for doing it.

[dee jones]

I like that Brad . I'll have to start using that one on a regular basis.

[SergioK]

I don't dismount her when I fill her tank.

[eduard]

Two days ago decided to take my bike to work after not riding for a about 3 weeks. You are right about the need of doing an inspection before riding. While I was riding in NYC I felt the bike handle strange. The bike felt very heavy and I was not able to turn and go around traffic. I then realized that my tires psi was very low. I got to say it was a strugle going to work and coming home with both tires low on air.

[wswartzwel]

Originally posted by bradzdotcom


this method drives jeff williams nuts, which is part of the fun/reason for doing it.

I have seen video footage of this circle check you mentioned Brad.
http://www.gromitspapa.com/EngineerRd.wmv

Perhaps Jeff was doing a "Fleet check" of Carlton's, yours, and his own bike while stopped for traffic.. Behind a bus load of tourists...
must have been right after riding some bumpy roads.

[RoundelRider]

Man, that road looks like a blast!!!

ROFL, funy to see the kids waving, then all of a sudden spaceman comes running across the screen!

[Moybin]

Originally posted by JonyRR
cross legs on the floor, burn some castrol R for incense and repeat after me:
'loctite, safety wire, locknuts'...
yadda yadda yadda...

In this ONE application Loctite won't serve well. It is broken down by high heat (some formulations require heat to break free). I'd say Lock Wire or jam nuts. But forget Loctite here. Yeah, I know the bracket is shaped to reduce heating, but here I wouldn't trust the stuff (Loctite).

[Tirebiter]

Originally posted by Moybin
In this ONE application Loctite won't serve well. It is broken down by high heat (some formulations require heat to break free).

You are correct on that point Moybin, I have found that heat application has been frequently necessary to break free nuts and bolts where red loctite was used. Dunno about blue, but would guess heat effects it as well and its holding power is supposed to be less than red...

I did note that BMW uses blue to secure the long bolts that hold the license plate/light assembly to the stock exhaust mounting plate (which is welded to the cans vs the Staintune bolt system)...regardless, it looks like the safest solution for this application would be to purchase longer bolts and then use jam nuts (and loctite?) or safety wire to secure the buggers.....

[Moybin]

At work we use a "red" Loctite that HAS to be heated to like 350F before it lets go. Loctite is based on saccharides (sugar molecules). If you happen to get some under a fingernail or in a break in you skin and transfer it to your mouth (oops) it tastes sweet. And heat decomposes sugars.

ps: the Loctite advised for use on the transmission is a "solvent-tolerant" version. Loctite also makes some interesting compounds for retaining bearings and bushings.

[geothepencil]

Reminds me of that dealer in MN who sent me out on a test ride of a used K1 with 20 pounds of air in the tires. I thought it steered a little slow. My fault. I should have checked it out myself. I bought it anyway.

geo

[bradzdotcom]

Originally posted by SergioK
I don't dismount her when I fill her tank.

Sergio~
you need to get out and date more.
or maybe just quit lighting bananas on fire.

......brad

[Mike Gehl]

Originally posted by Moybin
... If you happen to get some under a fingernail or in a break in you skin and transfer it to your mouth (oops) it tastes sweet. And heat decomposes sugars.

Um, so does saliva? ;-)

Don't lick your tail assembly/muffler mount bolts!

Mike

[Jeff Williams]

Brad,
heck sparky I take off for NYC for a few days and you tell everyone about these habits I'm picking up from you to keep me from doing myself in.........
In few weeks we'll have some fun my friend.
cya
jeff

[wood-d]

Amen!! Yesterday, I was installing a Suburban Machinery peg lowering kit and looky what I found ...



2 of the 3 swingarm bolts were missing the the third was only finger tight!